Your Reviews

"Colourful, entertaining and a twist of an old tale…"

14-Jul-2015

My sons, 3 and 5, read this book several times with me and they would give it 5 stars. The 3 year old enjoyed the colours and depth to the illustrations. The 5 year old enjoyed the use of rhyme. They both enjoyed being able to complete the end of the rhymes in places, but did not find the story too predictable that it became boring.It has become a firm favourite of my 3 year old and he has given it pride of place in his bed and taken it everyday with him in the car for the last 2 weeks. He also did something he has never done before, he took it to nursery for the practitioners to share with the other children. His view - he enjoyed this book so why shouldn't everyone else be able to!

Mumsnetter VeraStanhope

"Brilliant rainy day reading!…"

13-Jul-2015

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

I read this book with my 3yo on a rainy afternoon when we'd exhausted all the usual games, at the point when I'd normally give in and out the TV on. I honestly wasn't expecting it (based on past experiences) to hold his interest for long, but he LOVED it! It had just the right balance of danger and peril, beautifully drawn illustrations and singalong repetitive rhymes to grab his attention and hold it - we read it 3 times in a row and would probably still be reading it now if I hadn't had to go cook!

"Colourful and fun…"

13-Jul-2015

My 2 year old enjoyed the pictures in this and while the story was a wee bit over her head enjoyed the scale of wee people to giant and the colours ok the pages. Overall a fun story to share together, we enjoyed reading it.

"Great story - a twist on Jack and the Beanstalk…"

13-Jul-2015

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.I read this with my 5 year old son, who is a reluctant reader. He quickly tuned in to the fact that it was about Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk, and liked the different impression of the giant.Nice, quirky illustrations complemented the story - would recommend.

"Enjoyable and colourful…"

12-Jul-2015

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion. Both my self and my husband read the Giant of Jum book to both our 4yr old little boy and also our 18 month old little girl,both very much enjoyed having the book read to them,the pictures themselves are great and told the story very well. Our 4 yr old especially liked and joined in each time Fe Fi Fo Fum came up in the story,and enjoyed sitting down with his little sister and looking at the pictures and telling her the story from the pictures,we all very much enjoyed the book which will no doubt get read many more times

Mumsnetter mmjb

"Modern-day take on a traditional fairytale…"

12-Jul-2015

I read The Giant of Jum with my 3 year-old daughter and, as far as stories about giants go, I thought this was the best for her age group. She enjoyed the story and the vibrant, friendly illustrations. In the story, the giant finds some children and wants to eat them. But they ask for his help - in retrieving a ball, rescuing a cat etc. They refuse to believe he's bad or scary - and he ends up being the kind giant they think he is. A beautiful message to send out to children. It's good value for money and a book that can be read over and over again. I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

Mumsnetter PigeonPairNell

"Scared my 4 year old…"

11-Jul-2015

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion. I thought this was a good story however my 4 year old son was scared and didn't want me to finish reading it as he was scared of the giant eating the boy. Obviously at the end that isn't what happened, so we finished reading it so that he knew the boy was safe but he hasn't asked to read it again (very unusual for him as he likes to read stories over and over) so I wouldn't recommend it for children with an active imagination!

"Lovely bedtime book…"

10-Jul-2015

My 3 1/2 year old son really enjoyed this story. He was a little unsure at first about the giant wanting to eat children, but soon forgot about that and was win over by the story. The illustrations are particularly good. If I'm being picky, the rhythm and rhyme in some sections isn't quite right and I found myself having to adapt, but it's a minor quibble really for a very good book.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

Mumsnetter GozerTheGozerian

"Loved it!…"

10-Jul-2015

Easy and fun to read. I love a rhyming story which this is. Not to long so a quick bedtime story. Engaged my son which is hard to do and he usually likes the same story every night but this didn't take him long to like. Overall I really liked it .

"Fun to read…"

10-Jul-2015

I read the book with my almost 4-year-old daughter. She loved the story and couldn't wait to find out if the grumpy, hungry giant would end up eating Jack for a snack or not. It's a fun story with some good rhyming but probably not as good and flowing as it could be. All in all, it's good value. My daughter's only critique is the giant's gigantic nose! (I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.)

"Fairly average…"

09-Jul-2015

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion. I read this book with my 4 year old son & 2 year old daughter. He wasn't overly impressed but my daughter loved it and has been asking for it every night. I'm not sure why- it doesn't feel like a classic & I found some of the sentences quite clunky. The pictures are ok & I guess there's a humorous ending but it's definitely lacking some substance. I'm glad I read it alone first because my son definitely didn't like the idea of the giant eating children (struggling with various anxieties at the moment). Personally I dislike the morals of Jack and the Beanstalk anyway so maybe that's why I wasn't keen on the story. Overall, my younger child likes it, older one isn't fussed. I probably wouldn't buy it as a gift for another child.

"nice rhyming story…"

08-Jul-2015

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion. my 6year old read this, and he really enjoyed it. He made the connection to Jack and beanstalk straight away, the illustrations were great and it is a rhyming text, which makes the text flow nicely. My son said if his younger sister read it, she might not like it as the giant wanted to eat children, but he knew that wouldn't really happen. We liked the happy ending, and that the giant turned out to be nice. Its an easy read, very enjoyable and amusing. I would be happy to pay the £5.99 for it

"A good book to read aloud…"

07-Jul-2015

My four year old son loves this book. I didn't review it immediately as I wanted to see if his enjoyment was due to it being new but no, he genuinely loves it.Thankfully, it's an enjoyable read for us grown ups as the rhymes scan really well and the pictures give DS and I lots to talk around. There are lots of lovely details in the illustrations and while the tale is simple I enjoy the fact that the giant turns out to be nice, despite having been labelled as otherwise.DS enjoys the fact that 'he turns vegetarian' and decides to eat cake rather than children.Overall a big thumbs up from us!

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

Mumsnetter KittieCat

"Really grew on me…"

07-Jul-2015

The giant starts out looking for children to eat. He's heard about a beanstalk and a boy called Jack and he thinks he'd be especially tasty. But when he finds the children, they gradually persuade him that it's better to help people than to eat them and they end up being friends.

I thought the book was nice but not amazing when I first read it through, but my four year old really liked it "because the giant gets much nicer." The story stimulated some nice chats about helping people and about giving people a chance to show their good side.

It's not too long and the rhyme carries it along - going "Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum!" is always good fun. Four year old never seems bothered about the giant wanting to eat children!

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"Children enjoyed it…"

06-Jul-2015

My children enjoyed this book (age 3 and 5) and found it interesting to listen to, with the rhyming story. They liked how it included references to Jack and the beanstalk which is a story they know well, and were interested to see how this story turned out differently, with a positive message about being kind.

The pictures are bright and colourful. My children enjoyed looking at these while reading the story.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"Nice story…"

05-Jul-2015

A nice updated version story based on a classic. The pictures are lovely and really make the book. Unfortunately the rhythm is a bit hard to follow initially but it only takes a couple of times of re-reading to get into it.I read this book to my two and four year olds. The four year old loved pretending to be a giant shouting Fee Fi Fo Fum but the book just couldn't hold the attention of our two year old (she wandered off or tried to shut the book everytime we read it).

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

Mumsnetter Byrdie

"Entertaining rhyming story…"

04-Jul-2015

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

This was an attractive, large picture book with an entertaining rhyming story about a Giant looking to eat Jack for a snack. My four year old enjoyed it, 20 month old wasn't too interested. I thought that the story was amusing and liked reading the rhymes aloud and pretending up eat my boys up!

Mumsnetter DirtyWeeRascal

"Average book…"

04-Jul-2015

My children (aged 2 and 5) enjoyed this book and liked the story of it.I thought it had a nice story to it with a lovely twist to the classic giant story. Personally though it wasn't a book I particularly enjoyed reading myself.

"Easy to read and not too long.…"

03-Jul-2015

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion. My 3year old loved reading this book. Colourful, lovely pictures and rhyming. A warming adaption of the usual jack and the beanstalk. My toddlers favourite bit is the fee and the fum and the fi!!!

"Fun Rhyming Book…"

03-Jul-2015

My five year old is a huge fan of rhyming books so was immediately pleased that this book featured rhyming text. From a reader's point of view I found that the rhyming didn't flow as well as other books but this didn't seem to bother my children. The story was good fun although my son didn't like the giant's intention to eat Jack! It's well illustrated and a fun read, we enjoyed it.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

Mumsnetter RedRoseMummy

"Nice story…"

02-Jul-2015

Although not an absolute favourite, my 4 year old daughter enjoyed this book very much. The illustrations are lovely, and my daughter was amused by the child-eating storyline, and the mention of Jack. I like the rhyming scheme - it's fun - and the book is a good length to hold a 4-year-old's interest.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"Nice twist on a classic story…"

02-Jul-2015

We love a rhyming book at bedtime, and this is no exception. It's a big hit with the boy, possibly because his preschool topic this term is Giants and growing and changing - so much so that it's been read through at least twice every bed time this week.

Some of the rhyming lines didn't scan quite as well as the Julia Donaldson books, but I found it a fun and enjoyable book to read with my son.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"Nice story and lovely illustrations let down by an odd rhyming pattern…"

02-Jul-2015

I liked this book; a nice twist on a classic fairytale with a happy ending. My two year old was able to follow the plot, and the illustrations are lovely - bright and bold and clear, with a good variety of layouts from page to page.

The story was mostly easy to read, with a clear rhyming pattern. Disappointingly, though, this is spoilt by the chorus which has a different pattern and, in my opinion, too many syllables. Every time I got into the swing of the rhythm, the chorus came up and I stumbled my way through it. This isn't so bad if it were to become a family favourite - well read and rehearsed - but as an occasional read, is annoying.

"We always like a rhyming read!…"

02-Jul-2015

This was a nice book with a sweet take on a traditional tale. We enjoyed reading it and thought the illustrations were good. Rhyming reads are always fun and overall it was a good nighttime book but nothing too spectacular really.

"Lovely fun book…"

02-Jul-2015

My 6 year old son & I really enjoyed this book. Lovely pictures throughout, the story could almost be scary but it has a nice fun twist to the tale at the end, and you know the giant isn't so bad really! ;)This will be one we keep going back to I'm sure.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"A lovely read…"

02-Jul-2015

Really liked this! Read it with my 3 and 4 year old boys and I was hoping it wouldn't be one of those terrible rhyming stories which don't scan properly but it was as rhythmic and clever as Julia Donaldson, and I loved the way the baddie was turned into a goodie by the children just expecting him to be nice. The boys loved the pictures and pored over them afterwards and several times since, and my littlest has asked for it as his bedtime book 2 nights on the trot - a definite hit!

"Enjoyable and exciting for preschool/early primary children…"

02-Jul-2015

I read the book with my 5 and 3 year old and they both really enjoyed it and found it a very fun book. My elder daughter liked the familiar wording at the beginning of the book and it helped keep her attention; with both girls getting excited at the idea that the giant was about to find some children to eat. I sometimes find it difficult to find books which catch both my girls attention as there is a two year gap but this definitely managed it.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

Mumsnetter BeeMyBaby

"A fun book…"

01-Jul-2015

My four year old loved the book. I was not sure about the Giant wanting to eat children at first, but it didn't bother my son.The Giant was my son's favourite character, and he was happy with how the story ended.The rhyme order changed on every page and I found myself having to correct myself a couple of times. This meant that it didn't quite flow as well as it should.The illustrations were interesting for a four year old.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"Great Giant story…"

01-Jul-2015

We really love this story! It's the tale of a grouchy child eating giant, who is on a search of a boy called Jack- to eat! It has lots of repetition, rhyme and is fun to read. My 3year old daughter loves looking at the pictures, especially pointing out the cat and the dog who appear on lots of pages. We have read this again and again and it will be read some more!

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"Entertaining, rhyming text…"

01-Jul-2015

My 8 year old read this book to his 5 and 2 year old siblings and we all really enjoyed it. the rhyming text is fun and it was nice for it to be based on a familiar story but with a lot of twists. The illustrations are lovely, with lots to spot. The children gave it 20 out of 10 and it has been the bedtime read of choice since we received it a couple of days ago.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"Great illustrations, story was OK.…"

01-Jul-2015

Read the book with my 5 year old daughter, who loved the animal illustrations. The story was OK but the rhyming was a bit cumbersome, and banging on about eating children all the way through was a bit odd, but it all turned out well with a slice of cake. I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

Mumsnetter AgentZigzag

"A fantastic read, lovely illustrations and a fun play on fairytales…"

30-Jun-2015

I read this book with my five year old son and he absolutely loved it. The story follows a hungry giant looking for a boy called Jack to eat. There is a play on the Jack and the Beanstalk story and the illustrations are fantastic with lots going on for children to spot something new every time. My son has asked for this book every night since we received it. A true sign of a keeper in this house! A great story for children everywhere.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"A different slant on a typical 'giant' book…"

30-Jun-2015

The Giant of Jum is a typical giant book - think Jack and the Beanstalk - with a child eating giant as the main character. The giant starts off as a scary oaf but ends up doing so many nice things that he turns out to be lovable and friendly - a character that grows on you through the book.

The illustrations in The Giant of Jum are beautiful and my daughter loved picking out things in the pictures - a ball, children and cake! She loved the story and although she was scared about the prospect of the giant eating children she was glad that the book had a happy ending - and I was too. It made it lovely to read together.

The Giant of Jum is different from any giant book we have read in the past and I loved reading it with my daughter. It will be a bedtime favourite in the future.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

Mumsnetter genuineplacebo

"Lovely colourful book, great bedtime story…"

30-Jun-2015

I read the story to my children who are aged 2,4 and 6. They loved the tale and especially loved the colourful and detailed illustrations. My six year old could probably read the words himself and my 4 and 2 year olds could guess the rhyming word at the end of the sentences. It's definitely going to become a favourite at bedtime with them! Thanks for giving us chance to review this book!

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"A nice bedtime read…"

30-Jun-2015

This book was a nice read. I found that the rhyming didn't quite flow too well at times but my 5 year old enjoyed it and liked reading the "fee, fi, fo, fum" parts herself, so it was nice that she could join in reading it too. The illustrations are nice and there's plenty to talk about and find on most pages. The story isn't too long, perfect for a pre bedtime read.

I was picked by MNHQ toreviewthis book, which I received for free. Thisreviewis in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"Nice colourful pictures, an enjoyable read…"

30-Jun-2015

Despite some initial reservations when I saw that the giant in the book wanted to eat children, I enjoyed reading this book with my two and a half year old and he wasn't concerned by the giant's food tastes (which improved as the book went on)!

It was a sweet little story and I liked the fact it was told in rhyme. I would say it was quite a simple tale and probably not one I'd want to read every bedtime but my son wanted to hear it again straight away, so I'll let him be the judge!

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

"Fun illustrations…"

30-Jun-2015

Having read this with my daughter, aged 6, I found the rhythm of the story didn't quite fit at times, but we enjoyed the rhyming story. The illustrations were great, with something new to notice each time you look at them.

The theme of the story was lovely - kindness winning over cold-heartedness and I will happily reread it a number of times.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion.

Mumsnetter lifewithpinkprincesses

"Loved the illustrations!…"

23-Jun-2015

DS aged 8 says "it's really, really good"

I liked it too, but more than the story, which was a fun, and more gentle twist on Jack and the Beanstalk, I was amused by the pictures.Every time I looked through it I noticed something that I hadn't spotted before..the frog in the crocodiles mouth, funny looking dog hanging off a cliff- fab!

"Fun book for my boys with great illustrations!…"

23-Jun-2015

My 7 year old and 4 year old sons really enjoyed this book (as did I!) The rhyming text helped my 4yo to join in and we loved looking at the detail in the pictures. They enjoyed the alternative story to Jack and the Beanstalk and without giving too much away, the mention of cake! It has already become a firm favourite at bedtime and we would all recommend adding it to your story collection!

(I was picked by MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion)

"Alternative Jack and the Beanstalk story…"

23-Jun-2015

This book is fun to read and the illustrations are amusing. Repetitive text helps the little ones to join in and, although the text can feel a little stilted at times,it makes a good addition to our book shelf."I was picked my MNHQ to review this book, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion."

"A modern giant tale…"

08-Jun-2015

My three year old loved the illustrations in this story and enjoyed the overall plot, though I enjoyed the repetition of "fee he said, foe he said..." the structure of the rhyming pattern jarred for me in a few places, though I don't think this affected her enjoyment of it! That the giant eats cake instead of Jack is a welcome and modern update to the classic giant stories and we both found this an amusing bedtime story.

"2 year old enjoyed this book…"

08-Jun-2015

My 2 year old has enjoyed this book and has chosen it several times over the last few days. The pictures grabbed his attention. I sometimes found the rhythm of the words didn't always flow but at times it was spot on and grabbed his attention. The story has a nice moral about being kind.

"Not the best book ever…"

07-Jun-2015

Interesting little book. Read it to my 4 yo who was initially a little perturbed by the thought of a giant eating children although he did find the ending quite amusing. Pictures were quite nice but the whole book lacks any real quality. Am really glad that we won it though and had a chance to share this book together. I wouldn't put this book at the top of my books to buy list but it's a reasonable enough book to provide some variety on a children's bookshelf.